Surgery Date Set

Got the call from CHOP- we are scheduled for March 5th. We need to be there early on March 4th for a pre-visit where they run a number of tests to make sure he is 100% healthy for surgery and then they tell us the time for the surgery the following day. I am slightly freaking out already, it is going to be here so quick. But that also means he is going to be healthy that soon too. What a way to ring in the New Year- not what we imagined when we first became pregnant! We are staying in, making a nice dinner and I am putting Jersey Shore on, despite Alex's protests. Liam likes it :o)

Santa!

One Month Old Pics

Christmas Weight Gain

A quick update- had Liam's pediatrician appointment yesterday and it couldn't have gone better. He gained 11 ounces in a week- dear Lord- and is now 7 lbs, 9 oz. That also moves him up on the growth chart to the 25% line. It will mean he will probably be about 10 and a half pounds at the time of his surgery. His oxygen levels were great, 88-92. The doctor was so impressed with him yesterday she gave us 2 weeks off! The next appointment we have is his 2 month check up/vaccines and then as long as he has steady weight gain of 4 oz a week over the next two, we probably don't need to come in very much at all! Liam hits the 6 week mark tomorrow which means I can begin taking him out, occasionally, not a lot. We still need to keep him home for the most part until surgery but the first 6 weeks were the most dangerous of getting infections and he is doing well, with the occasional congested nose. Head's up, Fair Oaks Santa, we will be the first people in line tomorrow!

We talked about his post op care and that too is a lot better than what we had thought. Once we are discharged from CHOP, we will need to do a follow up with our cardiologist about a week later. Our cardiologist will monitor Liam, particularly based on the medications he will be on. Once that piece of it is over, perhaps a few weeks of care, we won't need to see the cardiologist except every 4-6 months. The pediatrician will make sure his wound heals well and then it will only be his normal well visits. So by April, we can be a normal infant schedule and as soon as his wound his healed, he will be like every other almost 6 month old. So excited! It will be a Merry Christmas and New Year indeed...

Four generations- Great Grandma, Grandma, Mommy and Liam, before going to the appointments at CHOP

Pictures from CHOP Trip

Daddy and Liam in one of the play areas at Ronald McDonald House